Hurricane Lowell is expected to pass near Kauai and Niihau in Western Hawaii Monday night, with the strongest impacts felt between 6pm Monday and 6am Tuesday local time. A hurricane warning has been issued for Kauai County, with up to 74mph wind gusts possible and 6-10 inches of rainfall expected, which could lead to significant flash flooding and mudslides. The storm is also forecast to bring tropical storm conditions to Oahu by Monday evening, while the Big Island can expect 4-8 inches of rain. Hawaii officials have closed public schools, government offices, and campgrounds on Kauai, urging residents to secure loose items and prepare for possible power outages.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Hurricane Lowell threatened Hawaii's major islands, including Kauai and Ni'ihau, with life-threatening conditions, heavy rainfall, and strong winds. The Category 4 hurricane was forecast to pass just west of the islands on Monday night, but its center could have brought tropical storm conditions to parts of the island chain. The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for Kauai County, including the islands of Kauai and Ni'ihau, as Lowell was expected to bring rainfall totals of 6-10 inches, with maximum totals of 14 inches possible.
Lowell's path shifted slightly to the east, increasing the likelihood of significant impacts for Kauai County. The hurricane had already weakened from a Category 3 to a Category 2 storm by Monday evening, but its strong winds and heavy rain still posed a threat to the islands. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses lost power as Lowell passed by Hawaii on Tuesday morning.
The storm's center moved within 110 miles northwest of Lihue, the county seat of Kauai County, and 215 miles west-northwest of Honolulu. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 70 miles from the storm's center, and the hurricane had the potential to pour up to 2 feet of rain on parts of the island chain.
As a result of Lowell's expected impacts, public schools, county offices, and state offices on Kauai were closed on Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, as well as possible tornadoes, in areas affected by the storm.
Lowell was one of three storms to threaten Hawaii within a few weeks, marking an unusually active hurricane season in the central Pacific.
Written for “Hurricane Lowell in Hawaii” on 2026-09-08,
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No political leaning scored for article 7030 · logged 2026-09-08
Hawaii braces for Hurricane Lowell amid risk of dangerous winds, flash floods
Hurricane Lowell was expected to pass near Kauai Monday night.
Hawaii officials urged residents and visitors to prepare for heavy rainfall and dangerous winds as Hurricane Lowell appeared set to barrel close to the islands of Kauai and Niihau.
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Lowell → brace → Kauai
Lowell weakened to a Category 2 hurricane as of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, with the storm expected to pass near the western part of the main Hawaiian islands between Monday night and Tuesday morning.
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storm → weaken → night
The strongest impacts will likely be felt between 6 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday local time.
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impacts → feel → p.m.
The latest forecast has shifted the trajectory slightly to the East, meaning a greater likelihood of significant impacts for Kauai County, including the islands of Kauai and Niihau.
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forecast → shift → Kauai
However, Lowell's strength as it passes the islands has trended slightly lower compared to 24 hours earlier.
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it → pass → islands
"Due to expected impacts from Hurricane Lowell, public schools on Kauaʻi, County of Kauaʻi offices, and State of Hawaiʻi offices on Kauaʻi will be closed on Tuesday, Sept. 8," the Kauai Emergency Management Agency said in a statement late Monday.
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Agency → expect → statement
“Kauaʻi County is most vulnerable to Hurricane Lowell, and we are not going to take chances with people’s safety,” Governor Josh Green said in the statement.
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Green → go → statement
As it's weakening, Lowell is still expected to bring significant impacts to portions of the Hawaiian Islands.
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Lowell → weaken → Islands
The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for Kauai County, which includes Kauai and Niihau, with hurricane conditions likely by late Monday.
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conditions → issue → Monday
A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for Oahu, including Honolulu, with tropical storm conditions expected later Monday into the evening.
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conditions → include → evening
Extremely dangerous surf may batter the southern and western exposed shores of Kauai, Niihau and Oahu, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HEMA) said.
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Agency → batter → Kauai
Officials have asked anyone who lives along the coast or in low-lying areas to be ready to evacuate.
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who → ask → areas
Hurricane Lowell is expected to produce additional rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches for Kauai, with a possible maximum total of 16 inches.
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Lowell → expect → inches
On the Big Island, 4 to 8 inches of rain is expected, with isolated totals of 12 inches possible.
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totals → expect → inches
This rainfall could produce significant flash flooding and mudslides, especially across Kauai County and portions of the Big Island.
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rainfall → produce → Island
Wind gusts of up to 74 miles per hour will be possible in Kauai County and up to 40 miles per hour on Oahu on Monday and Tuesday, HEMA said.
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HEMA → say → Monday
Hawaii officials warned of possible power outages as a result of high winds or flash flooding.
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officials → warn → winds
In Poipu, a resort town on the southern coast of Kauai, officials called on residents to stay off roads and urged tourists to shelter in place.
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officials → call → place
Campgrounds and parks were closed.
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Campgrounds → close → ?
The Kauai Emergency Management Agency advised residents to secure loose items around their property, fill their gas tank, charge their devices, refill prescriptions, and make sure their household retains sufficient water, food and emergency supplies.
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household → advise → water
ABC News' Kenton Gewecke and Kayna Whitworth contributed to this report.
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Gewecke → contribute → report
